Diving instructor drowns in Eilat freediving competition

Police are investigating whether negligence was a factor

By ToI Staff 3 September 2014, 2:27 am

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Illustrative photo of an Israeli diver swimming with a dolphin at the Dolphin Reef of the Red Sea in Eilat. (Nati Shohat /Flash90)

A 29-year-old diving instructor died two weeks ago during a freediving competition at the Dolphin Reef in Eilat, police said Tuesday

Police opened a criminal probe against the owners on Tuesday to investigate whether negligence was a factor in the instructor’s death.

The instructor, who was competing against other divers to hold his breath for the longest period of time, seems to have passed out and drowned after a short time.

The Dolphin Reef in Eilat responded to the investigation by saying: “The instructor snuck into the pool area after hours without our knowledge and took part in an activity we do not allow. We are sorry for this tragic outcome, and we are doing everything we can to ensure accidents like this do not happen again.”